Steve's the youngest.'
'At least I'm not the ugliest,' Steve said with a grin.
Byron laughed. 'You wish.'
Liam shook his head. 'Alright, let's move before Aaron has time to clean up his trail.'
'Told you guys I saw tracks outside our house the other day,' Steve said. 'No one ever listens to me.'
'That's because you whine too much,' Flynt said, punching him in the side as he grabbed the bag and disappeared into the trees.
Steve looked appalled. 'I do not.'
Liam lifted a brow at Steve, but said nothing. He turned to me instead. 'We're going to have to be in wolf form.'
I nodded. 'How am I going to keep up with you? Won't I slow you down?'
Liam smirked. 'You, my dear,' he said, pointing a finger at my chest, 'are not walking.' He turned from me with a smug little chuckle as he started towards the shrubs to 'change'. I jogged after him.
'Wait, what are you talking about? What do you mean I'm not walking?'
Liam grinned, giving a shrug.
'Liam, if you want to stay in wolf form, you better tell me what's going on.'
'Who's the pack leader now?' Flynt said with a chuckle.
'Shut up,' Liam said, elbowing him as he passed on his way to the bushes.
I giggled.
Liam shifted his gaze to me. 'You wouldn't.'
'I would,' I said, hand on my hip.
'Fine, I'm carrying you,' he said.
'Carrying me?'
'How do you think you got here while passed out? You rode on my back.'
Liam wiggled his brow at me, and then stepped out of view. When he returned, his wolf-self beamed at my inability to come up with words. 'Yeah well you can't talk either.' I said.
Liam's lips rose over his large canine teeth, and I faked a scowl. His large head pushed into me, nearly knocking me over. With a quick, short whimper, he motioned behind him.
'What?' I asked, and then I realized he wanted me to get on. I groaned. The last time I rode an animal, I fell off the pony. Who ever heard of riding wolves anyway?
Liam shoved his big head into me again.
'Okay, okay,' I said.
I took hold of his thick rusty colored coat, the soft, fineness of it surprising me. Hoisting myself up, I leaned over his back, and swung my leg to the other side. Athletic ability had never been my thing, and it showed. I started to slip. A cool, damp nose pressed into me from behind, lifting me the rest of the way.
'Hey, no being fresh,' I said.
Liam's body shook with laughter and I almost lost my balance. Not a good sign. We hadn't even moved yet.
The other wolves joined us, and Liam took the lead. My fingers gripped the scruff of his neck with a death hold. I didn't have the nerve to sit straight on his back, leaning on my stomach with my legs dangling down on both sides. If it hurt Liam, it didn't show.
I could feel the movement of his muscles under me, his gate long and lanky. He had his nose in the air and Byron and Flynt scanned the ground.
My thoughts returned to Ty and I shivered. I couldn't imagine how scared she must be. We had to find her.
Liam gave a quick, short bark and lurched forward into a long loping sprint.
My knees bore into his ribcage as I squeaked, burying my head into his fur. The wind whistled in my ears and I didn't dare peek for fear of losing my balance. I kept myself low on his back, hoping the passing shrubs wouldn't nab at my skin.
The sun had set and under the covering of the trees I couldn't see a thing. I hoped the nocturnal vision of wolves was good, for Liam weaved in and out of the trees with blinding speed.
For miles we crisscrossed along paths only known by the scent and the instinct of the wolves. My knuckles and thighs ached from the knot I had them in. I prayed to be there. I didn't know how much longer I could hold on.
Liam's body twitched and then he came to an abrupt stop. The hairs surrounding me bristled and rose, as a low growl vibrated from his chest. The others halted too. A chorus of low deafening snarls erupted around me. My skin turned cold.
Straining my eyes, I tried to make out what they saw, but I couldn't see.
Liam's chest reverberated again, and he lowered himself on his haunches, stepping back. The soft sound of shifting feet moved beside me. What was going on? Why were we retreating?
A cloud passed overhead, allowing a small sliver of moonlight to filter through ... and then I saw them.
Chapter 19
An electric charge ignited the still air. The skin on my back prickled, and something in me stirred, flushing a wave of energy just below my flesh. In front of us, stepping lowly from the shadows came eight massive werewolves. Teeth bared and ears pinned back, they snarled and spat at us.
I shook, praying I wouldn't pass out. I couldn't fall off Liam now.
Liam withdrew further from the proceeding wolves, his chest vibrating, matching their growls. I could imagine the look on Liam's face and I shivered.
The rest of the pack moved forward as Liam and I retreated. Confused, I wondered why Liam, the Alpha, wouldn't be the one to front the attack. I had seen him fight. I knew why he had that title. Then I realized I was the reason.
The other pack crouched down on their front legs, sharp claws digging into the dirt. They maneuvered in a wide circle around us, readying to pounce. Saliva spat from their bared teeth, and I had to wonder if this had been a trap, Ty being bate. I doubted Liam knew Aaron had back up.
'Ah, Aiden, my delightfully annoying twin brother,' a male voice said. Aaron, in human form, immerged from behind his pack of wolves.
Liam stiffened under me.
'Oh, wait. It's Liam now, isn't it?' Aaron said with a snap to his tone.
I could guess the reason why. The snarls ceased, his pack crouched, waiting as if on command.
Liam shifted further under the trees, away from Aaron, but two wolves halted him. Byron snapped at them, and they jumped him, biting his flank. Snarls ripped through the air. Byron went for the neck of the closest wolf, tossing it, just as the other one pushed Byron to the ground. He twisted himself up, embedding his teeth into the other wolf's leg.
I buried my head in Liam's neck. I couldn't watch.
'Enough,' Aaron said.
His pack mates ceased attacking Byron and bounded for the border of the make shift circle. I smiled, seeing one limp, but my stomach dropped when I saw blood oozing from Byron's hip. Byron shook, making his dark hairs stick on end and then joined our side without any sign of pain. I exhaled with relief.
'Come on now. We don't want to frighten the poor girl,' Aaron said with a smirk that looked too much like Liam's. His intense blue eyes bore into me and I glanced away. He laughed. 'You are full of secrets, aren't you, Aiden?'
Liam's large head motioned to the side and I gasped as Flynt grabbed a hold of the back of my shirt with his teeth. I tried to hold on, not wanting to let go of Liam, but Flynt pulled me free, placing me on the ground. My heart raced. I felt exposed on my feet, but Flynt tucked me into his furry chest with his long muzzle.
Steve tossed the small leather bag to Liam, just as Liam started to shift back to his human form. He pulled
